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I intend to use 6 pins on my 12-string project, and slot the bridge. Each main/octave pair will be on one pin. Traffic jam. I think I want to make the slots deep enough to accommodate the strings one in front of the other, the slot being wide enough for one and long enough for two.

I don't have any experience to call on. Any comments/thoughts to share?

Thanks!

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Peter Havriluk

I had two strings per pin on a 12 string guitar. I did not stack them rather I put them side by side. It turned out easy to string up. When cutting the slots make them perpendicular to the tangents. (Basically aimed at the center)



There is a description in a documented 12 string build of mine.

http://harvestmoonguitars.com/angel12string2.htm

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

V V V V V V
O O O O O O

I'm not very good at ascii art, but hopefully the idea comes across - I angle the slots from the center of the pin hole away from each other. Try to make the slots long enough so the ball ends don't interfere with each other, and so you can change either string without disturbing the other. Some old violin tail pieces are made that way.

John, thanks for offering the link to your web site. But I had no joy getting the link to work. 'Service unavailable' errors. Server on strike? This seems to be a corollary of no good deed goes unpunished...

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Peter Havriluk

I did one 12-string that way and cut the slots about 11:00 and 1:00 o'clock. Worked pretty good.

Pat

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Pat

Thanks

Thanks for the heads up on the server. I really need to change providers but it is such a pain. The advise of 11:00 and 1:00 is good advise. The slots do not need to be deeper than what you normally would have when not using slotted pins. My 12 string was falcate braced so there was no room for 12 holes without hitting a brace. Now I prefer the look as well.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Thanks, everybody. A wonderful symposium! I need to see what my uncooperative hands allow me to do. Being precise with the bridge slots will be something to work up to quite carefully.

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Peter Havriluk

I have not built a 12 string with six pins but I have made one with a tail piece and put very shallow slots in the saddle to set the spacing,

Pretty basic, just eyeballed it.

Pat

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Pat

Pat, thanks. The string slots are as clear as can be. Even I can male them out. I think, too, that they illustrate John's comment about orientation.

About that saddle....?

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Peter Havriluk

African blackwood. It's a true rosewood, very hard and dense.

Pat

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Pat

Unison high E and B, octave pairs otherwise, with the higher string being towards the treble side? IE normal 12 string.

Neat to see how the compensation worked out. What was your method for working it out - did you calculate it, eyeball, cut and try?

I made sure the fundamentals were where I normally put them, then kind of eyeballed the others. I might have looked at some pictures. Turned out great.

Pat

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Pat

Sorry, didn't catch that question. No, the smaller string is toward the bass side, which is what I believe a normal 12 string configuration is.

Pat

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Pat